Just outside the centre circle of Austria’s training pitch, Ralf Rangnick stood deep in discussion with his assistant Lars Kornetka. Nothing could interrupt such focused conversation, but for an interested observer it was hard for attention not to drift. No more than 200 metres beyond the far side, the multicoloured flags that fly atop Berlin’s Olympiastadion’s stands fluttered over a row of trees. At the right-hand corner stood the columns that guard its west entrance, and the perfunctory row of terracing, as Rangnick’s squad emerged to go through their paces.
Austria may have a last-16 tie on Tuesday with Turkey to grapple with, but they can see the Euro 2024 finishing line every day. They are based at the amateur stadium, used by Hertha Berlin’s under-23 team, that adjoins the arena where dreams will come true in just under a fortnight. It is a languid Sunday morning in the surrounding complex, the bustle of match day replaced by a vintage car exhibition, along with a mixture of joggers, curious tourists and perambulating families, but Austria have their eyes on glory.
They topped Group D and have staked a claim to be the tournament’s best-drilled team. Rangnick is working miracles and it escapes nobody in their orbit that, positioned in the softer half of the draw, they have an unprecedented chance to become contenders. As they split into three groups and rat-a-tatted their way into the session with rondo drills, a breeze removing the mugginess of recent days, the thought occurred that proximity to the summer’s biggest stage can hardly be detrimental to their already burgeoning confidence.
“Definitely,” the defender Kevin Danso said, when asked whether the location of their base offered an incentive, although he added heavy caveats in the one-game-at-a-time tradition. Austria have felt comfortable in Berlin and there is a clear sense they have lucked out. They have already tasted victory at Olympiastadion twice in the past 10 days, against Poland and the Netherlands, so will know how to win there if the time comes again.
If they overcome Turkey in the last 16, perhaps even a rematch against the Dutch will take place next door. First they make the relatively short journey to Leipzig and that, too, may resemble a home from home. Rangnick’s past within the Red Bull empire is well documented; his players Nicolas Seiwald and Christoph Baumgartner play for RB Leipzig and the dynamic midfielder Konrad Laimer spent six years in Saxony before joining Bayern Munich in 2023.
“It’s ideal we can take the bus to Leipzig, just a two-hour drive,” said Laimer, who held court alongside Danso. “I know the stadium very well and had great moments there. But that doesn’t really help for this game.”
It just might, though, and Austria’s wider familiarity is certainly advantageous. This feels like a club team, partly because of the togetherness and rigour Rangnick has instilled but largely because so many of the players have received similar schooling. Ten of the squad have had exposure, at least in some degree, to the model implemented by Rangnick in Leipzig and Salzburg. Repeating the point does not labour it: in international football, that level of cohesion and understanding can move mountains.
“As a team we’ve been together such a long time and everyone knows what we want,” Laimer said. “We know what the coach demands. Many of us have had a similar education and the other players have adapted very well. It feels very good, on and off the pitch.”
Austria have taken time away from the field between rounds. Rangnick and Kornetka played golf on Thursday while some players and staff with young children visited Berlin zoo. Maybe city life is granting a richer experience than that of some rivals. Rangnick, exceptionally spry for his age, turned 66 on Saturday and was greeted with cake, a signed poster from the squad and traditional songs. There has been scope to have fun between the serious business of running opponents into the ground.
Given Austria will have had a week between games by the time Tuesday comes around there is a risk that Turkey – who will miss their influential captain, Hakan Calhanoglu, through suspension – will feel the full force of their pent-up energy. Austria pulsated with it in the group stage, partly because of Rangnick’s willingness to rotate more heavily than most peers. “We’re extra motivated,” Laimer said. “It’s important for us that we are there from the very first second.”
It is becoming increasingly plausible that they are present, too, at the bitter end. Austria have lost only twice in their past 19 games and feel supremely well-oiled. The mania that surrounds Turkey’s matches may dilute the Leipzig factor, but knockout football is where clear heads prevail and there are few more lucid. “We’ll have a similar passion, we’re looking forward to it at least as much as they are,” Laimer said.
They would not mind an extended stay in Germany’s capital, and perhaps a few more surreptitious glances over from that training facility, either. “We want to stay in Berlin longer, we like it here, so on Tuesday we’ll have to do something about that,” he said. Austria’s assuredness is increasingly obvious.
